Support for aspiring school athletes

Applications are now open for the Sport Manawatu Athletes Scholarship.

A scholarship of $1,500 per annum are available to secondary school students who currently compete or officiate at a high level and are planning to undertake full time study for up to three years within the Manawatu region.

“This scholarship provides assistance for students to make it a little easier to compete at the top level while studying, says Sport Manawatu’s Ben Koch.

“We have supported a number of high performing young athletes previously, including Black Stick team mates Emily Naylor and Kayla Sharland and cyclist Simon van Velthooven,” he says.

“Our current recipients are some of our region’s best young sporting prospects, such as young squash stars Joseph Watts and Danielle Fourie, smallbore shooter Daniel Morris, Central Mysticks Hockey representative Elizabeth Horne, 400m Hurdler Jaimee Knyn and Manawatu Hockey player and international umpire Lucy Townend.”

“We look forward to supporting a new athlete this year, as they begin their studies and move into a new phase of their career,” says Mr Koch.

The scholarships are offered through the support of the Sport Manawatu’s 500 Club which consists of a number of local businesses that contribute to a pool of funding designed to assist local sportspeople to continue in their chosen sporting field whilst undertaking tertiary or trade study.

Applications close Friday 7 October 2011.

For more information on applying for the Sport Manawatu Athlete Scholarships or for information on joining the 500 Club visit sportmanwatu.org.nz.